Words Beats & Life Podcasts

Something to Say (06-11-2024)

In this episode of the "Something to Say" podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, interviews rap artist Flex Mathews. They discuss Flex’s family history, creativity, creating art, being respectful as an artist, and upcoming performances. 

 

Patrick Washington talks with the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, Tara Prakash. 

 

Mazi speaks with poet, artist, and author, Raquel Ra Brown. They discuss Raquel’s family story, Philadelphia, poetry, and motherhood. 

 

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Something to Say (06-04-2024)

In this episode of the "Something to Say" podcast our host, Mazi Mutafa, speaks with DJ 2-Tone Jones. They discuss his journey to becoming a DJ, collaborating with other artists, his current projects, and the inspiration behind Shaolin Jazz.

 

Patrick Washington speaks with Saniya Pearson who is the 2024 Prince Georges Count Youth Poet Laureate and Mia Diminia the 2024 Arlington Virginia Youth Poet Laureate.

 

Mazi speaks with Professor Dr. Msia Clark of Howard University. They have an in depth discussion on the current state of hip-hop. 

 

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Something to Say (05-28-2024)

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast our host, Mazi Mutafa, interviews the President and CEO of Arts Fairfax, Stuart Holt. They discuss Stuart’s family, youth education in the arts, developing arts curriculum, the importance of opera, meeting the needs of artists, and the Poet Laureate program. 

 

Patrick Washington speak with the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, Tara Prakash and the 2024 Washington DC Youth Poet Laureate, Isaac Yebio. 

 

Mazi sits down with Christian Heyne, the Chief Program and Policy Officer at Brady

 

After that Mazi talks to music educator and lyricist Mikal Amin. 

 

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Something to Say (05-21-2024)

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast our host, Mazi Mutafa, interviews Hezekiah. They discuss Hezekiah’s family, becoming an artist, navigating the music scene, spending time in Philly, and the state of hip-hop. 

 

Patrick Washington speaks with the 2023 Virginia State Youth Poet Laureate Kashvi Ramani.

 

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Something to Say (05-07-2024)

In this episode of the "Something to Say" podcast our host, Mazi Mutafa, talks to jazz musician and singer Aaron Myers II. They discus s Aaron’s family background, his career, the state of the arts in DC, and making the arts equitable.

 

Patrick Washington speaks with the 2021 Arlington Youth Poet Laureate Amasa Maleski, and Isaac Yebio who is the 2024 Washington DC Youth Poet Laureate. 

 

Mazi opens up the phone lines for a discussion on what it’s like to be a musician in the DMV area and speaks to various local musicians. 

 

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Something to Say (04-23-2024)

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host, Mazi Mutafa, interviews Karen Baker who is the founder of Social Art and Culture. They discuss Karen’s family history, her start as an artist, festival organization, helping artists, cultivating future generations of creatives, starting an artist fellowship. 

 

Co-host Patrick Washington speaks with the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, Tara Prakash, and the 2024 Arlington County Youth Poet Laureate, Mia Dimina.

 

Mazi sits down with Jaren Hill Lockridge, Leonina Arismendi, Lynda Andrews-Barry, Billy Frieble, Melani N. Douglass, Murat Cem Mengüç, Noël Kassewitz, Sherri Roberts Lumpkin, and Stephanie Garon, who are all fellows of Social Art and Culture. 

 

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Something to Say (4-16-2024)

In this episode Mazi Mutafa dives deep with Monica Sanders, Founder of The Undivide Project.They discuss Monica's path to becoming a lawyer, witnessing Hurricane Katrina, and her mission to bridge divides in D.C.

 

Patrick Washington chats with 2023 D.C. Youth Poet Laureate, Sophia Hall and later to 2023 PG County YPL, Precious Foreman. Mazi returns to speak with Maureen L. Dwyer, Executive Director of the Sitar Arts Center.

 

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for another episode of "Something to Say."

Something to Say (04-02-2024)

Host Mazi Mutafa interviews Kelvin Lyons, a Towards 2040 Fellow, about his family, podcast, mentors, leadership through the arts, and the fellowship itself.

Mazi then chats with Ravish Momin, D.A. Mekonnen, and Kamyar Arsani. They share music, discuss collaborations,artistic journeys, and play some of their work.

Co-host Patrick Washington takes over to interview 2024 Arlington County Youth Poet Laureate, Mia Dimina. They delve into her relationship with poetry, and she shares her poem "A Fox."

Mazi rejoins the conversation with the previous musicians and welcomes new guest Amirah Sackett. Together, they explore the concept of labels in art, Amirah's work, her path to dance, upcoming shows, and the intersection of Art and Islam.

Mazi dives deeper with Amirah alone, discussing her artistic journey and self-expression through art.

Patrick returns to interview Amasa Maleski. They discuss her upcoming book, and she shares her poem "Lightening Bugs."

To wrap up, Mazi speaks with Dr. Lowe of the Office of Out of School Time Grants. They explore the importance of the office, Summer in the City programs, and the future of after-school programming.

Something to Say (3-26-2024)

In this episode of the “Something to Say” podcast, our host Mazi Mutafa interviews Taylor Matthews. They discuss Taylor's family history, her journey as an artist, her college experience, choreo poems, and the Day Breaks community.

Next, Mazi introduces the new Youth Poet Laureates of Montgomery County, Arlington County, and Washington D.C. First, we hear from Tara Prakash of Montgomery County. Following that, our co-host Donney Rose joins us for a discussion on the Youth Poet Laureate poems. Afterward, we hear from Arlington County’s Youth Poet Laureate, Mia Dimina.

Later, our other co-host, Patrick Washington, speaks with Washington D.C.’s Youth Poet Laureate, Isaac Yebio. They discuss Isaac’s personal journey with poetry, and Isaac shares his poem “Prometheus Perennial.”

Following this, Mazi talks to Chitra Subramanian about her family, how she started dancing, her introduction to different forms of dance, starting a career in the arts, the Towards 2040 fellowship, her upcoming events, and advice for creatives.

To finish the episode, we hear once more from co-host Patrick Washington, who speaks with the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, Tara Prakash. They discuss Tara’s love for poetry, and she shares her poem titled “On Erosion.”

Tune in next week for another episode of the “Something to Say” podcast!

Something to Say (03-19-2024)

Our host, Mazi, welcomes Reem Bassous, the Artistic Director and Head of Faculty at the Washington Studio School. Their conversation explores Reem's educational background, her journey as an artist, her role at the Washington Studio School, and her experiences in teaching art.

Next up, co-host Patrick Washington takes the stage. He interviews Tara Prakash, the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate. Tara sheds light on her inspirations and shares her poem, "On Erosion." Following that, Patrick sits down with Saniya Pearson, the 2024 Youth Poet Laureate for Prince George's County. Their conversation delves into Saniya's use of poetry for advocacy, and she shares her poem, "I Am."

Later, Mazi engages in a conversation with poet and community advocate Nkechi Feaster. They explore Nkechi's advocacy work, her upbringing, the impact of gentrification on communities, and The Diversity Fund.

We wrap up the show with co-host Donney Rose, who provides a rundown of exciting upcoming programs on WBL.

Thanks for joining us! Don't miss the next episode of "Something to Say" next week!